Joseph l



(No Model.)

lJ. L POLLBTT.

BUCKLE'.

Patented Sept. 5, 1882.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.'

JOSEPH L. FOLLETT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

BUCKLE.

SPECIFICATION-forming part of Letters Patent N o. 264,032, dated September 5, A1882.

Application led May 31, 1882.

To all whom tt may concern:

Be it known that I, J osEPH L. FOLLETT, of the city, county, and State of New York,have invented a certain and useful Improvement in Buckles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is designed to overcome an objection -to the use of ordinary buckles, which is the liability-for instance, in harness or on shawl or other straps-ot' hair, thread, or portions of garments, wearing-apparel, or the like catching between the front bar of the buckleframe and the strap. This is particularly annoying in harness, for the horse in switching his tail frequently has it caught in this way by a buckle.

My improvement consists in forming or providin g the buckle at the front on each side with a guard angeor lip, which projects to the rear or under side of the buckle far enough to cause the two to form a recess on the under face of the buckle, which receives the strap and prevents effectually the catching of anything between the strap and the front bar of the buckle.

The nature of my improvements will be readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure lis a plan of my improved buckle with straps attached. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same on line 2 2, Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on line 3 3, Fig. 1.

The buckle, except in the feature hereinafter more particularly described,does not differ materially from au ordinary buckle,consisting ot a frame, A, and tongue B. The tongue is hinged on the rear bar of the frame, to which bar is also securedmthe strap O in the usual way.

My improvement consists in providing the buckle on each side, at the front, with the guard lips or flanges a, which extend rearwardly or to the under side of the buckle a suicient dis- (No model.)

tance to form a strapreceiving recess, b. The end of the strap passes under the front bar of the frame into the buckle, where it engages the tongue in the ordinary way. When the strap is thus placed and drawn taut its side edges will be covered by the guard a, to au extent sufficient to prevent hair or any other ilaments from bein g drawn crosswise between the front part of the buckle and the strap. A convenient Way of making the buckle of this form is to have the front bar of the frame above the side bars, as indicated in the drawings; but the same result can be produced by providing the ordinary buckle-frame at the front with side guards, ingers, or lips, between which the strap which passes under the front bar Will lie.

I am aware that a buckle has heretofore been proposed in which the rear ofthe buckleframe is recessed for the purpose of bringing the strap at that point into nearly the same plane as the lower edge ot' the front bar of the frame 5 but this buckle has no such provision as that contemplated by me, and is open to all the objections hereinbefore stated as attending the use of ordinary buckles.

What I claim as new and of my invention 1s- Theimproved buckle hereinbefore described, consisting of the frame having the tongue pivoted to its rear cross-bar, and provided at its front end with side .guard lips orlan ges which form a strap-receivin g recess on the under side of the front bar, as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 18th day of May, 1882.

JOSEPH L. FOLLE'IT. Witnesses:

S. GALINGEE, J. L. MITCHELL. 

